Review of GPD Win - the smallest Windows gaming laptop

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

A miniature device with balanced performance that fits in your pocket and can replace your portable game console and netbook.

GPD is known for its handheld game consoles that can be purchased at any cell phone store. Until recently, the main platform for them was the Android OS, but the developers decided not to stop there.

This is how the crowdfunding project GPD Win appeared - a portable device with a QWERTY keyboard and an integrated gamepad, developed on the basis of an Intel processor. It is controlled by desktop Windows 10 and is made in the form factor of Nintendo consoles.

The device became one of the most popular projects on Kickstarter in 2016, promising to replace all portable devices.

Specifications

Display	5.5-inch IPS display, resolution 1 280 × 720, 10-point touchscreen
CPU	Intel Atom X7 Z8750 (4 cores, 1.6-2.6 GHz)
Video card	Intel HD Graphics 405
RAM	4 GB
User memory	64 GB + microSD slot with support for cards up to 256 GB
Keyboard	QWERTY (67 main keys and 10 additional keys), volume control buttons, power button
Gamepad	Two analog sticks; A, B, X, Y; L1 and L2, R1 and R2, additional L3 and R3; Start and Select
Wired interfaces	USB 3.0, USB Type C, mini-HDMI, 3.5 mm headset jack
Wireless interfaces	Dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac, Bluetooth 4.1
Operating system	Windows 10 (upgradeable)
Battery	Non-removable, 6 700 mAh
Dimensions (edit)	155 x 96 x 20 mm
The weight	365 g

Design

As you can see from the characteristics, the device is intended for a wide range of users: the traditional processor architecture allows it to be used in a wide variety of applications. The developers had to try to implement the available functionality as conveniently as possible.

GPD Win is slightly larger than a regular smartphone diagonally, but with a huge thickness - the same once looked like communicators (including Win SE) and UMPC.

Fits in a pocket, although 365 g is decently pulled back. And this despite the fact that only the top cover is made of metal. The main body is made of plastic.

The hinges seem to be quite flimsy, especially when the device is opened to the maximum 180 degrees, but long-term testing has shown them to be reliable. The gadget is assembled with high quality: no squeaks or backlashes are observed.

The developers abandoned the all-metal case due to the high heat generation, which numerous ventilation holes did not help to cope with: GPD Win had to be equipped with an active cooling system.

The developers placed a three-position ventilation speed switch on the bottom surface. It allows you to turn off the cooling or choose between medium and maximum rotational speed. At medium speed, the system works very quietly, but at high speeds it is clearly audible even at maximum volume of the built-in speaker.

The speaker is located on the right side. Not the best location, but the left side, bottom surface and rear end are occupied by ventilation holes and peripheral ports.

Keyboard unit

The dimensions of GPD Win forced the developers to abandon the usual keyboard and touchpad. We have at our disposal a two-block QWERTY keyboard in the style of Nokia E72 and a full replacement for a gamepad: two analog sticks, a 4-way joystick, four keys (A, B, X, Y) and two pairs of clickers (L1, L2, R1, R2).

The main role of the keyboard is auxiliary: entering usernames and passwords. The keys are convex, but they are closely spaced, the owners of large fingers will have a hard time. You will have to forget about blind typing altogether: the layout is non-standard. Localization is not and is not expected, but laser engraving will always help. On the other hand, the absence of the Cyrillic alphabet does not interfere with writing code or working with the command line.

The additional block consists of keys, standard for compact attachments, and a power button (flat, to avoid accidental clicks).

Game manipulator

Game manipulators use high-quality filling of the Japanese company Omron. As a gamepad, GPD Win is very convenient: high sensitivity, easy pressing, correct arrangement of elements.

There is a mode switch between the sticks.

1. Direct Input to emulate keypads in old games.
2. Mouse emulation. In this mode, the left stick moves the cursor, the right stick is responsible for scrolling, and L and R are used as mouse keys.
3. Classic Xbox controller with full compatibility with modern applications.

The existence of two similar operating modes is due to software compatibility. Old and modern games use different sets of drivers for gamepads to work. The switch removes compatibility issues at the hardware level, so both the latest in the gaming industry and NES emulators can work on the GPD.

Display

GPD Win is equipped with a 5.5-inch IPS-matrix with HD resolution (1 280 × 720). The screen is really good: the color reproduction is correct, the viewing angles are excellent, the clarity is sufficient, and the brightness can be the envy of flagship smartphones.

The touch screen is covered with Gorilla Glass 3 to protect it from scratches. The sensitivity is very good, so sometimes it is really easier to point with your finger than to use manipulators.

Hardware platform

As a processor, the GPD Win developers used Intel Atom x7-8700 (Cherry Trail) and its version x7-8750 with a frequency increased to 2.6 GHz for Turbo Boost mode (base frequency - 1.6 GHz). Integrated video core - Intel HD 405 with 16 shader units and a frequency of 200-600 MHz.

In addition, the device is equipped with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of permanent eMMC, which is used instead of a hard drive. You can increase its volume due to the microSD slot, which supports work with memory cards up to 256 GB.

Peripheral communications

The gadget is equipped with a full set of modern interfaces. Wireless types of communication are represented by dual-band Wi-Fi (a / b / g / n / ac) and Bluetooth 4.1.

There are no connection problems, the set-top box works great with any wireless peripherals: from a router to headsets and wireless joysticks.

Although there is no SIM card slot, as well as cameras, the device is equipped with a microphone and works with voice communication (for example, using Skype).

The built-in mini-jack has 4 pins, so a wired headset can be connected to GPD Win. For physical connection, USB 3.0, USB-C (including for charging) and mini-HDMI-C are provided (there is no adapter for a more traditional one).

Autonomous work

The device is charged using a complete 5 V / 2.5 A power supply with USB-C output. The 6,700 mAh battery is fully recharged in 4 hours.

The energy reserve is enough for 4-5 hours of active play and up to 8 hours of video playback in stand-alone mode at minimum brightness. Quite good results taking into account the gluttony of the processor.

Software

GPD Win runs the most common Windows 10, which gives certain advantages over other portable gaming platforms like Nintendo and PSP Vita.

Thanks to this, any software can be used on GPD Win: from Microsoft Office to AutoCAD. Of course, the screen size and keyboard seriously limit the device's capabilities. But even they do not interfere with using the gadget for writing code, working with remote servers or setting up network equipment. In these applications, Win can replace the netbook.

As a gaming platform, GPD Win's performance is sufficient for most games released a few years ago. You will have to forget about the novelties of the gaming industry, such as Doom or The Witcher 3. But old games work fine: Half-Life 2 at maximum settings shows stable 30-80 frames per second (fps), S. T. A. L. K. E. R. and TES 4: Oblivion - about 50, Doom 3, Left For Dead, Dead Space and Bioshock 2 - at least 30. Strategies like Heroes of Might and Magic 5 and even dynamic NFC Carbon run at 30-50 fps.

The developers took care of high-quality drivers for all components of the set-top box. This makes the popular DosBox and Dolphin emulators work just fine.

conclusions

The GPD had an interesting niche device, and the successful start of sales allowed the company to launch an even more original device called the Pocket. The device found its buyer despite the cost of $ 355.

Pros of GPD Win:

• original form factor;
• convenient control;
• balanced characteristics;
• a wide range of games and other programs;
• quality software.

Cons of GPD Win:

• average autonomy;
• lack of a localized keyboard.

Unlike all competitors, GPD Win can play not only the role of a portable game console, but also "earn money" as a netbook. There is enough performance to connect an external monitor (with a resolution up to 4K) - a convenient work computer will come out. And as a console, Win is much more interesting than Nintendo devices thanks to the endless number of supported games.